The government needs working relations
PTI enthusiasts may have got some sort of pleasure from the sight of NAB personnel attempting to arrest Punjab Assembly Leader of the Opposition Hamza Shehbaz, but it certainly was not something that would promote the kind of working relationship the government should be seeking for the passage of the legislation enabling the extension of the jurisdiction of military courts over terrorist offences.
There seems some disagreement over whether the raiders had a warrant for Mian Hamza’s arrest. It was perhaps a coincidence that NAB made the effort the very next day after the Lahore High Court removed the name of his father Mian Shehbaz Sharif, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, from the Exit Control List, but not many people believe it. Not many believe the government’s stand either, that it has nothing to do with NAB’s actions. NAB should realise two things: first, its actions have political consequences. The raid on Hamza Shehbaz is not an isolated incident, but comes after the appearance before NAB of ex-President Asif Zardari and son Bilawal Bhutto in a money-laundering case, making it seem almost as if NAB wanted to vitiate the political atmosphere. Second, it has poor credibility, and is seen as a tool for political persecution. Hamza Shehbaz has previously appeared before NAB on being summoned, and though there are new charges now, it is still puzzling why NAB would presume that he would run away and thus conduct such an intrusive raid, which was, by the way, an abject failure. This is a new case, and involves an increase in his assets while holding public office.
Though the passage of a constitutional amendment is needed by the government, both major opposition parties are being driven away from it by NAB. Instead of using its good offices to enable talks, the government insists that ‘corrupt elements’ must be tackled. That corruption cannot be tolerated, that it must be punished, cannot be denied by anyone. However, that should not be made an excuse for fracturing the political process. Legal procedure must be followed, and no one is above the law. However, the law must not only not be used as a tool to persecute opponents, it must be seen as scrupulously fair.